Be Careful in What You Wish for

The weather was crazily hot, I was asking myself whether it is the sun or the tinted films on my car wind screen, side windows and back screen quality has degraded after 5 years. The idea of have a 'darker' and 'better' film on my car crossed my mind.

There were some trapped air bubbles on the back screen, some peeled off area on the side windows, but besides that everything is fine.

Last week, when I was driving on the Penang Bridge, I was tired but I was awakened by a 'piak' noise. I thought it was a small pebble hitting my wind screen and nothing happen, but I double checked it again and I saw there was a crack. Shit....

Luckily I insured that piece of wind screen but the trouble of getting the insurance claim documentation, sending it to workshop, sending for another tint film, all those arrangement are tiring.

I guess I need to top up certain amount on top of the RM1000 claim entitlement.

Haih.... really need to be careful what you wish for.

O.o

I have A Date with Trouble @ Gunung Nuang

Nothing much to be said, I paid for trouble.

Date: 3 March 2013 (Sunday)
Starting:  6am - Ending: 6pm (GMT+8)
Venue: Gunung Nuang , Pangsun Hulu Langat Selangor, Malaysia
Distance: 5km In / 5km Out = 10km loop
Reporting Time: 3 March 2013, Sunday 5:00am (GMT+8)
GPS coordinate (Garmin):  N 3. 13.023 / E 101. 52.996

Minimum 40km within 12 hours to be entitled for a finisher-T.

If you want to join this crazy party... please visit

http://12ultra.blogspot.com/

Race Report - Takashima Fun Run 2012

Date: 02 December 2012
Location: Takashima HQ, Penang Science Park
Distance: 4 km (2.95 km)
Bib No.: N/A
Registration Fee: RM17
Gears: Asics DS-Trainer 16, Garmin Forerunner 405
Starting Time: N/A (7:43am)
Running Time: 00:14:13
Pace: 4:49 min/km

I have not been racing for quite some time, so a fun run will do for me. I am not going to talk much about this run because it is a FUN run, actually I was questioning myself why I did not want to take part in the 10k race. I wonder.

Morning, I woke up around 5 something as I told wifey that I wanted to reach early to get a perfect parking slot as it could be limited. We departed at 5 minutes past 6am and we reached Takashima Headquarter in 20-25 minutes, I forgot. I could see many familiar faces, probably it was more like a local race.

I did called my parents so that they remember to come as they have paid the registration fees as well.

I got myself ready with the shoes, hydration waistpack (although it was not really required), garmin 405 and a camera. My main objective was to capture photos of runners. After that, we were allowed to visit Takashima HQ. We walked inside, check out the mini swimming pool, KTV room, movie room, *Ferrari, and all those fitness equipment inside the premise.

The security was loose, I guess no one could steal those things.

There was a warm up session and 10k runners were flagged off. Can see one runner actually 'cheated' accidentally or intentionally but I guess that short distance did not make any significant changes to the race result.

 

Then, it was followed by the fun run. Reminder was given to all fun run participants to be more careful as the 10k runners would be coming back and you know that they're fast or very fast. I was at the back then quickly stormed to the front but by that time, the leading runners were already 200m in front. I had to played catch up.

It was quite difficult to run with a DSLR, luckily I did not attempt that during my River Jungle Marathon, I could have thrown it away.

At the 1-km mark or the first right turn, I managed to overtake the leading runner, a young lad, which was a little bit slower, I think he did not control his pace well at the beginning. Then, the marshal in mountain bike keep chatting with me.... talking nonsense and I entertained him since this was just a fun run.

I just kept running until the roundabout and I noticed that it would be an under distance run, there was nothing to be won and my objective was to capture photos. I informed the marshal to escort the second runner because I would be slowing down to snap some photos. Soon, it was the final left turn to the finishing line, I speculated that it could be less than 4km as claimed.

I stopped and turned back to snap photos, luckily they still posed to the camera. By the time, 3 runners had went past me, I kept running to the finishing line in 4th position. My Garmin showed 2.95km. Wow... short of 1km, but whatever laa... I did not take the certificate as I don't really need it and I was soaked in perspiration.

Got myself into a good position and start shooting photos. I think I have covered at least 90% of the runners that came back. The photos can be viewed at

Not much review to be done.

Garmin data: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/249455928

Race Report - Rock to Rock Run 2012 --LATE Entry!!!!--

I know it is late, but I was delaying it for a reason, which was the deadly CQE examination preparation. I did it last minute so I have no one else to blame but myself. My apology.

Date: 28 October 2012
Location: Hard Rock Hotel, Penang
Distance: 10.2 km (10.19 km)
Bib No.: 1250
Registration Fee: RM50 (for charity)
Gears: Asics DS-Trainer 16, Garmin Forerunner 405
Starting Time: 6.50am (7:10am)
Running Time: 00:46:23
Pace: 4:33 min/km

It was 4:45am and I was already awake. I needed the time for my pre-race ritual such as early facebook access, a light breakfast and bowel cleaning.... err... I guess it should be bowel clearing. Normally, it takes some time for the bowel start moving, so waking up early on the race day is a must, rather than having the 'call' at the starting line.

Friends and colleagues of wifey were staying overnight at my house. I was ready earlier than expected and waiting impatiently for the others, that includes my wifey. She always ask me to nudge her 30 minutes before the departure time. A lady prep is an unknown, imagine several ladies. Anyway, we managed to leave the house around 5:15am.

I was driving quite fast on the bridge because I knew that the parking slots are scare at Hard Rock Hotel. Spotted a few runners actually doing the LSD from Youth Park to Hard Rock Hotel as the preparation for PBIM, I guessed. Eric Lim was one of them.

We reached Hard Rock Hotel around 6:00am and the access to the hotel parking was closed, why? because it was full. Many cars already parking along the main road leading to Teluk Bahang. Luckily I managed to get slot not far away from the starting line, probably 150 to 200m away. I felt hungry and ate one banana.

Still early and we were hanging around participants gathering area, cam-whoring, snapping photos of others, checking out the dressed runners' outfit, etc.

6:50am, I was already waiting for the gun off, but seems like they were waiting for the VIP to pull the trigger. Haih.... I hate that but anyhow we were unleashed at 7:10am. I tried to run slower because I fear that the futsal session that I had a day before would undermine my determination to run all the way, so I took it cautiously.

I started the run with 3:27 min/km and after 100m I figured out that it was way too fast and for sure I'd be 'kong-ed' by the fast pace. I took it slower. The elevation came earlier than expected. I was not sure about my condition, so I followed the general guidelines. I switched to smaller stride and higher cadence going up the hill.

The pace for the 2nd km was 4:22 and 3rd km was 4:36. Probably I felt good or the adrenaline was rushing all over my body, the pace was better than expected. I actually overtook a few runners that always tuned up in the local races, that kept driving me to move forward.

That came to a point that I saw a few runners 100-200m in front of me, they were running at the similar pace as me, so the gap was never closed up. Without notice, all the runners were turning left into the road leading to butterfly farm. I could see runners coming back, they're damn fast.

We're made to run into the butterfly farm and make a small U-turn, there was the water station, I did not bring my hydration waistpack, so I grabbed 2 cups of water and continue to chase after the nearest group.

As I was running out to the main road again, I could see many runners making their way to the U-turn point such as Kenny, Raja Uda Idol, Woei Jye, etc. I tried to maintain the same pace and I was able to run at 4:28 until km-6. Then the pace drop to 4:3x for the consecutive few KMs. I could feel that the Asics DS Trainer was soaking wet and became heavier and heavier.

I could only see the runners in front of me opening the gap and gone missing from view....Pace dropped to 4:4x and 4:5x. Haih.... poor.... Then, it was my intention to snap some photos of the participants, so I grabbed my camera bag from my car boot and rushed to the finishing line. Luckily it was just a short distance, else I could die bringing it along for the whole 10k.

Finally I crossed the finishing line at 46:23. Average pace was 4:33 min/km.... wow.... not bad at all. Wifey took a photo of me crossing the line and I picked a spot and starting to snap photos for other runners.

 

Race Summary:

• Happy with my first and last 10k race of 2012. It is a automatic PB since I did not run many 10k events.
• Smaller stride and higher cadence vs normal stride and regular cadence in hill running help to conserve energy.
• Happy to see a few runners actually dress up to run. I dressed up but not as 'cool' as the 'Best Custome' runners.

Garmin Data: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/237708049

Race Review:

Pros:

• Charity event but Brooks event T and limited finisher medals were given out. Good.
• Red bull, buns and mineral waters were given out at the finishing area.
• Best Costume Runner prizes could attract more runners to join. Running should be fun and not always about timing or PB.

Cons:

• Late start. Should start on time, everytime.
• Traffic control was a little loose at the T-junction near the butterfly farm.

 ---Rock and Roll---